A Court of King’s Bench justice has upheld a decision by Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) board of trustees to disqualify Monique LaGrange from sitting on the board following a controversial social media post last year.
The decision by Court of King’s Bench Justice C. L. Arcand-Kootenay was issued on Dec. 16.
“I find that the punishment here is not excessive or clearly unfit,” Arcand-Kootenay said in the decision. “The board committed no error in principle in determining that disqualification was the appropriate sanction. As a result, I confirm their decision to disqualify the applicant pursuant to their authority under the Education Act.
“I find the board’s decision reasonable and confirm it, along with the sanction of disqualification.”
On or about Aug. 27, 2023 then-trustee LaGrange made a post on her social media featuring an image of children holding a Nazi flag with swastikas above an image of other children holding a Pride flag.
The post was accompanied by the words “Brainwashing is brainwashing”.
The Pride flag is a symbol used to promote and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.
In November, the justice upheld the board’s September 26, 2023 decision to sanction LaGrange.
Those sanctions included LaGrange not being permitted to represent the board or school division in any official capacity, including board/school division functions, events, award ceremonies, conferences, assemblies, school masses, graduation events, school council meetings and speaking with news/media outlets.
In November 2023, LaGrange’s fellow trustees passed a motion disqualifying her from continuing to hold her elected position.
In a release issued at the time, the board said she was disqualified due to “violating sanctions issued on September 26, 2023 and further violations of board policy and the Education Act.”
Specifically, the board said LaGrange made a social media post and gave interviews that violated sanctions imposed by the board.
LaGrange has appealed the sanctions and her disqualification.
In her Dec. 16 ruling, Justice Arcand-Kootenay said that “a lesser sanction had not been effective at stopping the behaviour in this case. The board was entitled to find that disqualification was necessary in light of all of the circumstances.”
The RDCRS division put out a release commenting on Justice Arcand-Kootenay’s decision.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this second judicial review, which confirms the integrity of the board’s decision-making process,” said chairman Murray Hollman. “As a board, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and positive learning environment for all students, staff, and community members.”
The decision “reinforces the board’s responsibility to enforce its code of conduct and uphold its legal obligations under the Education Act,” he said.
The 10,600-student RDCRS division includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.